She started going on about the party she was planning, the schedule, the decorations … things he didn’t care about. But this was what was important to his mother, so he obliged her by agreeing, acting interested. But the truth was his thoughts were elsewhere, on one person.
On Bunny.
Once he was finally off the phone, Brice turned and stared out the window again, picturing all the things he would say to Bunny when the time was right, all the things he’d do to her. Maybe he’d have sex with her at the charity event. Maybe he wouldn’t. The last thing he wanted to do was drive a wedge between them.
But then again, she was all he wanted.
He would make Bunny see that she was meant for him. He would show her that the last two years she’d been it for him. From the moment she’d walked into his life that was it. He was done for. And if she didn’t see… then chasing Bunny would be his life’s mission.
3
Bunny stared down at her dress and then at her hair, and at the jewels Brice had also forced her to wear. She was in his office, waiting for him to get back to take her to this charity event.
This wasn’t her.
Still, it had been fun to go shopping, even if this didn’t feel natural to her.
She thought about the last couple of years she’d worked for him, how he’d been cold and gruff, as if looking for a reason to get rid of her.
She’d proven herself time and time again. If he thought to humiliate her by taking her tonight, then she was done. She wouldn’t fight for a job anymore where she wasn’t wanted, where the man she’d secretly desired was nothing but a pompous asshole, even if the work he did was for a good cause.
Brice knocked on the door, behaving like the perfect gentleman.
“Come in,” she said.
She hated how unsure she sounded. Grow some balls, Bunny.
Brice opened the door and then stood there. She put on her “I give no shits” attitude and smiled, giving a little twirl.
“What do you think?”
He didn’t answer.
She finally turned toward him, brow raised, and waited. “Did I pick the wrong dress?” She’d gone for a red. The sales assistant had helped her pick it because she was useless when it came to fashion of any kind. She tended to just see things she liked and buy them, even if the color was ghastly and horrible.
“No, it’s perfect,” he said. “You look … stunning.” He cleared his throat and she felt the air change, shift. Had she actually affected him?
Was he paying her a compliment?
“Are you sure? I can take it back and you’ll have to pick from your little black book of tricks for your date.”
“My little black book?”
“Yeah, you know, all the women you’ve dated. They say that men keep black books, or they did. I don’t know.” What she did know was she had never been in any guy’s black book, nor did she want to be.
“I’m not lying to you. You look amazing.”
“I clean up pretty good, huh?” She winked but internally, she cringed. “So, are you ready to take me to the ball, Prince? Just ignore me. There’s a reason I don’t go out in public.”
“You’re nervous.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you nervous.”
“I don’t make a habit of doing things that freak me out. This is all new. Are you sure you need me?”
“I need you.” He stepped into the office, looking even better in a tuxedo than he did in a suit. How was that even possible? It wasn’t fair but damn, he certainly did look like a prince to her. She didn’t understand why she was thinking about all these fairy tales. “Let’s go and get this over with.”
He offered his arm and it took her a second to realize he wanted her to take it.
“Right, of course.” She slid her arm through his, and held it. They walked together toward the elevator. “Are we walking there?”
“No. My driver is downstairs. He’s waiting for us.”
“I see.”
“You don’t have to be nervous.”
“The press is going to be there. I think I’d much prefer going through the back entrance, but we can’t always have what we want.”
“I’ve found if you want something enough, you’ll fight for it. It may take you some time to come up with a cunning plan, but overall, it’ll work. You’ve just got to stay focused.”
“Is that how you achieve everything? By staying focused?”
“It’s how anyone gets anything in life. It’s how I built all of this up.”
“I know you’re a hard worker. I would never question your dedication.”
“It’s more than hard work.”
She chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, I know it’s more than hard work. It’s one of the reasons I love working for you. There is never a dull moment in the office. I’ve had jobs throughout my life where watching paint dry would have been a more entertaining way to spend my day.”